Backstreet's back. Maybe (photos)

The largely female audience in attendance at Wednesday night's Backstreet Boys (BSB) performance at the Essar Centre didn't care that the boys are no longer boys at all.

Ranging in age from 28 (Nick Carter) to 35 (Howie Dorough), the men came out swinging clad in robes and gloves to perform their 1999 hit Larger Than Life in a makeshift boxing ring.

The frenzied fans also didn't care that the four of the original five BSB appeared a bit uncomfortable dancing in stereotypical boy-band fashion.

Cliche and forced, the dance numbers lacked the vitality they once expressed and often left the men winded and out of step.

The exception was Nick Carter who snagged every opportunity to revel in the limelight.

However, the BSB truly shone when they ditched the dancing and allowed their harmonies to be front and centre on numbers like Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely and Incomplete.

The career-spanning set list also included a medley of some of their biggest singles, including As Long As You Love Me and Quit Playing Games (With My Heart).

Each member further indulged themselves by performing a solo number, with Brian Littrell's acoustic ballad Welcome Home (You) being the only one to deviate from the boy-band pop formula.

But no matter how sticky-sweet, over the top or trite the performance was, every single move, word and expression delivered by the BSB was met with overwhelming shrieks of delight.

Especially when the four ventured off the stage to the front row to kiss the girls and make them cry.

And swoon.

And scream some more.

The final song of the set, Everybody (Backstreet's Back), was followed by an encore of Shape of My Heart from their no. 1 release Black and Blue of 2000.

Whether or not Backstreet is really back remains to be seen.

According to the 3,700 screaming BSB devotees in the Sault last night, they most definitely are.